Two Months of Lifers Down Under (2 Viewers)

delia todd · Jan 19, 2020

Still at breakfast, the male Red-winged Parrot joined a Spotted Dove and a pair of Rainbow Lorikeets at their seed feast.

Before leaving that lovely setting, I just had to take a picture of a rosella in a Jacaranda tree - it just was so pretty.

Outside in the car park were a couple of Maned Ducks.

Maidenwell had worked hard to make the area look attractive so I've shown you a couple of pictures, the first the toilet block and a bit of the garden beside the car park, both with Aboriginal paintings; there was more, but thought I'd restrict it to these two images.

Also seen / heard in the village, were King Parrot, Pied Currawong, Double-barred Finch, a Butcherbird, Channel-billed Cuckoo and Australasian Koel.

delia todd · Jan 19, 2020

From Maidenwell we then headed further into the park and on the approach to the Russell Park Picnic area we pulled up short for movement was seen in the tree tops.

Found the culprit eventually.... a rather beautiful White-headed Pigeon!

There were lovely views up there too, along with some lovely Bunya Pine trees of course.

Wandering round the picnic area there we also found a Satin Bowerbird and some Kangaroos (or are they Wallabies?) - mostly keeping in the shade. Got a picture of one with a joey in the pouch.... think everyone wants that view don't they?

kbirdly · Jan 19, 2020

Delia,
I joined this forum awhile ago, but I am finally reading posts today. I have loved meeting all of the birds that you have seen through your photographs. Thank you!

Best,
Kim

delia todd · Jan 19, 2020

Thank you so much Kim!

I'm so glad to hear that you're enjoying your time with us.

Nora · Jan 20, 2020

Love the avatar Delia.......love these photos especially the Kangaroo and her Joey, I wait for ages at the kitchen window for this but yours is brilliant! thanks for sharing! Great to see the Rainbows sharing the feeder too

Farnboro John · Jan 20, 2020

delia todd said:
Also seen / heard in the village, were ... Double-breasted Finch, ......

Full plumage..... 3

John

delia todd · Jan 20, 2020

Farnboro John said:
Full plumage..... 3

John

Ooops!

Corrected. Thanks John.

delia todd · Jan 20, 2020

Dandabah Campground

We moved on to Dandabah Campground then, which was very attractively laid out with this pole statue as a centre piece (you can possibly see where part of the inspiration for it came from in the next picture - a tree with a vine growing on it). I may show you some more from there in the next post or two... see how it works out.

Hans had a plan and took a moment or two to work out where we needed to go, then off we set into the forest. I'm still fascinated by the shapes and vines to be seen... we get nothing like it in the UK.

Again... I woefully failed to get a picture of a Grey Shrikethrush here!

After a few minutes walk we arrived at a huge tree, with steps up leading inside.... quite dark in there so you need a minute to adjust your eyes.

I could see it and see it clearly with my bins.... .... but couldn't find it in the viewfinder. Clicked hopefully LOL. Then Hans took pity on me and took a couple of shots with my camera. Different height, different position I thought.. it wasn't till later I realised I had got the subject, if only I'd zoomed in on it LOL.

There in his regular roost tree was a Sooty Owl. WOW!! So the fourth picture is the one I took (uncropped; can you see it?) The last the one Hans took (thanks lad).

delia todd · Jan 20, 2020

On our way back from seeing the owl, I was re-acquainted with a pretty Eastern Yellow Robin. How delightful they are.

Not like this Gympie-Gympie or Giant Stinging Tree!!! Apparently the worst plant ever for causing pain, maybe for months. https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/science-environment/2014/02/factsheet-gympie-gympie/

But then, nearby, there was what I thought was a rather pretty-looking tree with the white bark. Didn't manage to get a name for it yet.

Back in the open I caught this Australian Brushturkey - appears he's in full breeding dress now.

delia todd · Jan 20, 2020

OK as promised, I'll show you some of the plaques that surrounded the statue. From memory I think there were 8, but here's 5.

If you're interested and want full size versions of any of these so you can read them (or the others that I have), just PM me your email add.

MKinHK · Jan 21, 2020

Oooh! gripped by your Sooty Owl Delia, having dipped on the Atherton Tablelands back in July . . . and your Red-capped Plover for that matter too!

Cheers
Mike

delia todd · Jan 21, 2020

We moved on then to the Paradise Parking Area .

Underneath a vehicle already there Was a White-browed Scrubwren. I was clicking for a bit, hoping for a better view, when another vehicle came in and parked right in front of me!!!

A wander down a track leading to the loos and I saw movement in a bush and followed it for a bit, trying to get a view. He sure was very active behind the leaves. When I met up with Hans shortly after, he said he'd seen/heard (can't remember which now) a Brown Gerygone (for those who don't know... it's pronounced Jerigonee (not Gerry gone!!!

) and he confirmed that my poor pictures were this guy!!

Moving on we spotted another fine specimen of a Bunya Pine. Judy pointed out that it's very difficult to find a 'perfect' specimen as the trees nearly always have a branch missing to spoil the symmetry! Then we came to the JS Fisher's Lookout. A good spot that, with fine views and walks. Down below us in the brush was a Red-necked Wallaby (think I got that right anyway).

delia todd · Jan 21, 2020

Oh Mike... thanks so much for your kind comment.

I love those wee plovers - one of my favourite wader families.

kb57 · Jan 21, 2020

delia todd said:
Not like this Gympie-Gympie or Giant Stinging Tree!!! Apparently the worst plant ever for causing pain, maybe for months. https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/science-environment/2014/02/factsheet-gympie-gympie/

Dear me, even the trees are out to get you in Australia :eek!:

delia todd · Jan 21, 2020

Indeed KB.... bit of a shocker that, don't you think!!!

kb57 · Jan 21, 2020

delia todd said:
Indeed KB.... bit of a shocker that, don't you think!!!

...just when I was thinking the Australian birdlife might overcome my worries about the other wildlife - it turns out you have to be wary of trees too! The article you linked to makes it sound a tad worse than a nettle sting!

MKinHK · Jan 21, 2020

Yep need to add trees to all of the killers in this classic song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNEeq5qGh8I

Cheers
Mike

JWN Andrewes · Jan 21, 2020

Delia, is there a second bird in your shot? Looks awfully like the vent of something sticking out there?

delia todd · Jan 21, 2020

JWN Andrewes said:
Delia, is there a second bird in your shot? Looks awfully like the vent of something sticking out there?

LOL James... think you've been caught out by a Stickbirdo

A close crop of that section of the picture attached.

JWN Andrewes · Jan 21, 2020

8-P brilliant! Can't blame me for tyring!

Two Months of Lifers Down Under (2 Viewers)

If I said the wrong thing it was a Senior Moment

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If I said the wrong thing it was a Senior Moment

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Kim

If I said the wrong thing it was a Senior Moment

Nora

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If I said the wrong thing it was a Senior Moment

If I said the wrong thing it was a Senior Moment

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If I said the wrong thing it was a Senior Moment

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If I said the wrong thing it was a Senior Moment

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Mike Kilburn

If I said the wrong thing it was a Senior Moment

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If I said the wrong thing it was a Senior Moment

Well-known member

If I said the wrong thing it was a Senior Moment

Well-known member

Mike Kilburn

Poor Judge of Pasta.

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If I said the wrong thing it was a Senior Moment

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Poor Judge of Pasta.

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